On Christmas Eve, Aruba’s Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt delivered his Christmas and Year-End Address to the community, reflecting on 2025 as a year marked by loss, mourning, and dramatic events, but also by powerful moments of solidarity, unity, and shared pride.
In his message, the Governor called on the community to transform the lessons learned throughout the year into greater solidarity, justice, and care for one another.
Governor Boekhoudt emphasized how deeply 2025 affected Aruba as a society. Early in the year, the island mourned the loss of a respected statesman and former Prime Minister, an event that brought the nation together in collective grief and remembrance. He also referenced tragic incidents in which young lives were lost on land and at sea, stressing that such tragedies should not divide the community but instead inspire meaningful change, justice, and renewed trust.
The Governor paid tribute to a beloved cultural icon whose music captured the rhythm, soul, and identity of Aruba, highlighting how art and culture preserve collective memory and strengthen national pride beyond borders.
He also praised the exceptional achievements of Aruba’s youth, particularly young athletes such as Little League baseball players, who demonstrated unity, dedication, and the shared values that bind the nation together.
Drawing from the Christmas story, Governor Boekhoudt reminded the public that true strength comes from humility, compassion, and faith, not power or wealth. He encouraged citizens to be a source of light in times of darkness, choosing understanding over judgment and kindness over division.
As families gather during the Christmas and New Year season, the Governor urged everyone to reflect on the value of life, the power of compassion, and the strength found in unity. He concluded by wishing the people of Aruba a blessed Christmas and a peaceful, hopeful, and prosperous New Year, extending warm greetings from his family to all households across the island.
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